November 5, 2006

food for risen bodies ii

I like this poem. It’s called ‘Food for Risen Bodies II’, and was written by Michael Symmons Roberts.

On that final night, his meal was formal:
lamb with bitter leaves of endive, chervil,
bread with olive oil and jars of wine.

Now on Tiberias’ shores he grills
a carp and catfish breakfast on a charcoal fire.
This is not hunger, this is resurrection:

he eats because he can, and wants to
taste the scales, the moist flakes of the sea,
to rub the salt into his wounds.

Here’s a short review of the poem, explaining the meaning and context a bit:

In this extraordinary poem, the reference to the simple pleasure of a barbecue, of eating ‘because he can’ could be read as almost heretical; yet what emerges is a superb image of the risen man, not yet returned to God, able finally to delight in the quotidian pleasures of life, his work done, his suffering over. It is a reminder of Jesus’ assertion that the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand: in the natural world, in the bodies we are and the bodies we love, in family, in the land, in a simple meal of charcoal-grilled fish. Such poems re-sacralise the ordinary components of our highest rituals: bread, wine, oil, flesh, blood, seed.

posted: 10:39 am

 

6 Responses to “food for risen bodies ii”

  1. Ryan McChatty Chat Chat
    November 7th, 2006 | 1:55 am

    What is it to "eat well" whether you are a man, or a city, or a nation? What is your sustenance, your sacrifice, your sacrament and your gristle?

    I like the differentiation in the poem between "need" and "desire". Need is something known, something immanent and fleshy, the taste for wine and lamb. But desire? It is for the unknown, a longing, the taste beyond taste, for the catch and release of a fresh fish.

    Sometimes I wonder around and wonder if what I see is an expression of need, or of desire, and wonder which one I have a taste for.

  2. Keith
    November 8th, 2006 | 11:25 am

    I’m reading Simone Weil at the moment. She describes the longing for God as "dying of thirst" to the point that you’re no longer even thinking of the thirst (need for water), just the water.

  3. love poems
    November 10th, 2006 | 9:55 am

    in : poemspedia.com
    More than 5000 Love Poems in a very user friendly interface with little ads

  4. Keith
    November 10th, 2006 | 10:11 am

    i don’t know if this is comment spam or not… but hey, why not.

  5. gpp
    November 28th, 2006 | 12:19 pm

    You might enjoy this Michael Symmons Roberts audio/video/text excerpt:
    http://www.griffinpoetryprize.com/see_hear_poetry.php?t=27

  6. Keith
    November 28th, 2006 | 12:22 pm

    thanks!